You'll find this fantastic hidden gem of nature as you head north into the Rangeley Lakes region -…read moreand it's well worth a stop! The main draw (for me anyway) is the 15-foot waterfall where the Swift River gushes over the smooth carved boulders - it's beautiful! Definitely a lovely visit in the fall colors - they were just starting to show on my visit in late September. But it's my understanding that this is a great place to frolic in natural swimming holes and jump off the rocks and enjoy the water in the warmer months. I had a great time exploring the area! There were butterflies EVERYWHERE!! Many different species - but one species was being particularly cooperative and I had a great time with my camera - and turns out it was a Pink-edged Sulfur which is the State Butterfly of Maine! It's easy to find - right off Swift River Rd and it's free. Theres a picnic area with several tables and a fun giant chair with a story about Paul Bunyan next to it. Everything is well maintained and there's a campground nearby. I didn't see any bathrooms.

Actually I love this place. But Cassie made me feel very very unwelcome. I have been a Coos Canyon…read moreand rented cabbage twice, the first time I just figured maybe Cassie was having a few bad days because I did stay a few days. But the second time I went she was even worse. It's a shame that a wonderful place like this has such a mean spirited and rude person working for them

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? No. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. Heads-up: to even access the parking lot, you'll need to drive down some seriously rough back roads. Maine back roads. You've been warned. Admittedly, this was one of the most difficult hikes I have ever done (to date). It's a (give or take) 3,187' elevation done in about 1.5 miles. Yeah. Let that sink in. It's an out-and-back vertical rock scramble. It's very steep, it's very rocky and it stays that way from the very beginning to the very end. We saw on multiple different hiking websites that "experienced, athletic hikers can make this aggressive climb in 1.5 to 2 hours." We got there at around 4:30pm and left around 8pm (and we were hustling down the mountain at the end because we didn't want to be up there in the dark after having seen a lot of fresh moose scat). We were shocked to see people just starting their climb as we were coming down! "Are we almost there?" one person asked... The answer? No, no you're not. And that's the story of Mt Blue. Just when you think you're almost to the summit... you're not. "Let's just push forward for five more minutes." VERTICAL ROCK SCRAMBLE. "Okay, just another five minutes." MORE VERTICAL ROCK SCRAMBLING. "Five more minutes and then we'll turn around." VERTICAL ROCK SCRAMBLING FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. When we had reached our absolute physical breaking point we really did go "just five more minutes"... and reached the summit, which offered some of the most spectacular, most rewarding views I have ever seen in Maine. At the top is an old fire tower that you can climb (there are a few levels of stairs; it sways ever so slightly in the wind, so people who get motion sickness or have fear of heights, heads-up), but from there you can see panoramic views of the picturesque, seemingly endless, nearby mountains and lakes. It was one of the most breathtaking scenic summits I have ever experienced or witnessed; Maine in absolutely all of her glory and beauty and impressiveness.

Holy moly! That my friend is a hike to do. Not only does it boast a gorgeous 360 view atop the…read moreobservation tower, it also gives you a workout that you will physically remember...for days. As part of my hike 40 different Maine mountains, I figured this was a good one to add to my list.(This was 36 if you were wondering) I hit up the google maps for direction and got myself within a few miles when I turned it off and followed the signs. I stopped at the multi-use trails to ensure it wasn't what I needed. It gave me good directions to the correct trail head I wanted. I scooted up the road that soon turned to dirt and after passing the sign and turn for Center Hill went .7 miles before seeing the sign for Mt. Blue. This bumpy dirt road went on for 2.5 miles before getting to the parking lot. My hike was all uphill. No switch backs, no meandering easy trails, just all up. Straight up rocks, boulders, and roots. Luckily at .5 there was trail off to the left with a small waterfall and then a bit further up there was a very old and falling apart cabin with more views of the mountain stream behind it. The rest of the hike was as I said before was all straight up. I had brought a jacket in case the overcast day got chilly but definitely didn't need it. I was sweaty and breathing heavy. Along the way I passed all ages of people so while this may be tough it's not impossible for any age. At the top I was delighted by the sight of the observation tower. How many mountains had I done where at the top I wanted to see more! I huffed it up the few flights of steps and took in a breathtaking 360 view! So worth the sweat, achey muscles, and exhaustion I felt. My trip up was 1:40 and trip down was 1:10. I'm in moderate shape and recovering from a leg injury so take that timing as you wish.

I was here for a family gathering to celebrate my sister's 50 th birthday. Our group stayed at a…read morecouple of cabins which were very nice and convenient. We went two days in a row. The first day was the full river trip and the second day was the ultimate on the Kennebec River. Both days were excellent!! It was my and my 16 year old year's first time white water rafting. We absolutely loved it!! We had a big group, 15 people the first day, 19 the second with a large range of ages 6-65 years and mixed of experienced and non experienced. We had the same guides both days-Jackie and Steve. Not only were they great guides but they are beautiful people! Everyone in our group had a wonderful time and we spent all night reminiscing.

What an amazing trip and terrific guide (Jackie)!!!! Rapids at the start and a beautiful relaxing…read morecruise at the end. Hot lunch once we all returned from the river with good food 10 out of 10, we would/will go for an other ride next time we are up in Maine.

Upside Town Small…read moreTown m, with a population of ±1,200, located in western Maine, not too far from New Hampshire. It's known for its gigantic (±10sq. miles [±6,300-acres]) lake and is renowned worldwide for its outdoor activities that range from skiing and snow shoeing to sport fishing and all manner of boating activities. The Good: *It sits midway between the equator and the north pole! I mean, not technically, but close enough for gubmint werk. *Free street parking *Lots of options for dining and shopping, and I will say we didn't have a bad meal here. *Locals are friendly. *Lots of smallish hiking places but with amazing views and/or waterfalls. *The lake itself is stunning. *Clean, fresh mountain air *Be sure to checkout the biweekly farmers market. *Cell signal was very not bad for an out in the sticks kinda place. *The drive up here is pretty epic, as well. The Meh: *State Park closes during the winter months so check their website for schedules. We *were* supposed to be arriving during one of their part days to be open, but I guess they ended up closing early for the season to get some maintenance done. We were annoyed but we understood. The Ugly: *The Town itself is very seasonal, as well. With some businesses not open in the winter. Conclusion: Amazing place to visit if you're a avid nature lover and it doesn't hurt that it can also satisfy your inner foodie, as well.

Rangeley is a wonderful little town and is the heart of the Rangeley Lakes region - which is 99%…read moreforest and water lol. Rangeley has a population of around 1500 but expands to around 10,000 during heavy tourist season. It was established in the mid-1800s and is a great place to base yourself out of when exploring the region. For such a small town, there are a surprising variety and number of restaurants and shops - a brew co, weekly farmers market (seasonal I'm sure), a historical society and museum, a movie theater, as well as a fly fishing shop with guide service. This is, apparently, the birthplace of fly fishing after all! Massive Rangeley Lake sits right in town with a lovely park - the sunsets are dramatist and beautiful- and they have water planes landing and taking off right on the lake! I visited during the early fall and it was pretty crowded but not too crazy - I'm sure it gets overrun. Summer is for playing on the water and winter is for skiing. There are so many hiking trails nearby, and ATVs are a big deal here too so there are lots of those trails. Everyone I interacted with was super friendly and so happy to chat -all the food is great. The lakes are breathtaking. I stayed at the Rangeley Inn & Tavern with lovely Haley Pond right behind it and heard the haunting Loons and got my first glimpses of them right from my patio! I loved my time in Rangeley and hope to visit again someday - an outdoor lovers paradise!

Amazing view, all year round! Great place to rest. The rest room is very clean…read more Road is a bit bumpy, well worth the stop.

Beautiful location with abundant fishing!! Brook trout ranged from 7 to 14 inches!!…read more Accommodations were what you would expect of an off grid camp. Beds and bathroom were clean and water was nice and hot in the shower. Food was good. Prime rib and Thanksgiving nights were the highlight. Breakfasts were outstanding. Boats were in great condition when we arrived. Only complaint was that boats were not cleaned out over the 5 days. Dock worker could have taken a broom or even portable vac and gotten the anchor dirt out of the boat daily. Overall, great trip and a fantastic place to relax. Definitely recommend Tim Pond!

Nice people, good fishing, delicious food and a relaxing environment. Definitely a good place to…read moreunwind. Having to head back to "reality" at the end of my stay was the only downside. Even if you don't fly fish (the pond has native brook trout), Tim Pond is a nice spot to relax. The owners and staff are welcoming and helpful, the cabins are rustic but really charming, and there's a lot of natural beauty and wildlife to take in while you're there, whether you're out on the pond, walking some trails, or sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. This year I went up for the fly fishing school taught by Bonnie Holding, who is, among other things, a Master Maine Guide and extremely patient instructor. I had been doubtful about it at first (I went with my boyfriend), but by the end of the weekend I was yanking fish out of that pond just like a pro. If I'd kept any of the fish, the kitchen would have prepared them for me for breakfast the following morning, but I let them all go. Maybe next time. Speaking of food, the freshly-prepared meals are de-LICIOUS (Saturday night: choice of prime rib or scallop-stuffed haddock) and always include a mouth-watering dessert if you've got room (the brownie pudding was in-CREDIBLE!!). (And really, who doesn't make room for dessert? Silly people, that's who.) And then there's the cookie jar, which is always well-stocked and accessible whenEVER you want a fresh chocolate chip cookie. Yum. Each cabin has a bathroom with hot and cold running water (with a toilet, sink & shower), beds with fresh linens, a wood stove (or fireplace), and a cribbage board for just in case. I saw pictures in the library taken in the early 1900s that suggest that some of the cabins may be original to that time period. Definitely adds to the character of the camp, as does the kerosene lantern you can use when the generator shuts off at 10:00 and you're in the middle of a "best-out-of-three" cribbage match. (No, I didn't win.) If you're looking for swank, this isn't it. But if you're looking to unplug, relax, and enjoy some good meals with good people, Tim Pond is the place to go. :)

Gracious hosts who I met during a hunting trip to Maine. Their farm sells fresh cucumbers,…read moretomatoes, and maple syrup. Rustic cabins available to rent on site for 12 months of Maine recreation.

This place is the worst to rent side by sides. The machines are in dire need of an upgrade/repair…read more Had multiple issues with normal wear and tear and the owner billed us for it. We broke down TWICE and didn't want to give us a partial refund. The lady working the desk was super unprofessional and called us "d**ks". I wouldn't recommend getting side by sides here. I'm not sure about their snowmobiles....but expect to get nickeled and dimed and treated poorly.

Can't say enough great things about this business! Phil and the crew were knowledgeable and so…read morehelpful in getting us educated on the ATV, trails, and safety. The employees there were really excited for us to have a good time which in turn made us comfortable and excited too. Best ATV rental in rangeley! Will for sure be back.